Starting a Holiday Gift Basket Business

Many entrepreneurs are turning their passion for handicrafts into a profitable home based business. A gift basket business is perfect for any creative person interested in a lucrative part time or full time career. Gift baskets can be custom made for any occasion.  They range in price from $ 17 to $ 70 depending on the contents of the basket. Most gift baskets have themes.  There are gourmet food gift baskets, gardener’s baskets, bath and spa gift baskets, gluten free food gift baskets and many others. There are also festive gift baskets for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving, birthdays or any memorable occasion. Custom holiday baskets make a wonderful gift and  are  easy to manufacture and sell.

Starting a gift basket business is inexpensive. Gift baskets can be manufactured cheaply with materials that are easily available from most craft shops. Some items like bath salts, essential oils, soaps and certain gourmet food items can be made at home. Decorative items like ribbon, cellophane paper,  and glue can also be purchased cheaply  at wholesale warehouses. Because gift baskets can be  manufactured at home, there is no need to rent office space.

Baskets can be sold online at  eBay, eBid or Etsy, a site which specializes in sales of handmade craft items. You can also promote your business on social media sites like Facebook, Google plus, and Twitter or advertise in the local newspaper. Besides selling online, you can sell your holiday baskets at local gift shops and farmer’s markets. Another way to introduce your business to the public is to donate a few gift baskets to charities or schools for fund raisers.  A gift basket business is an opportunity to use your imagination and artistic skills to create a unique gift that everyone will appreciate.

Drop Shipping For Your eBay or Online Business

Selling or reselling merchandise online at eBay or thru your own website is an employment option for many out of work Americans. If you have an eBay store or an online store front, working with a drop shipper is a method to increase your product line and earnings. The term drop shipping refers to a sales system where a small business sells customers goods, which are shipped from a large wholesale drop ship warehouse directly to the customer. The small business does not have inventory for sale at their physical location. They give the drop shippers details of the sale, and the drop shippers send the merchandise directly to the customer. Drop shipping is a convenient practice for small internet businesses and saves them time and money. In addition, it allows small online stores and eBay businesses to sell large, high priced electronic items, clothing and other merchandise to a variety of different customers. The items can be sold anywhere including amazon.com, eBay or your own online store. Most drop shippers want you to have a seller’s permit or a reseller’s permit before they will drop ship for you.  Prior to beginning any business transactions, check with the drop shipper and your state regarding the rules about business licenses, sellers permits, resellers permits and sales taxes. The most well-known drop shippers are Doba and Productsourcing.com. Doba is well known for its on-line drop ship education resources, reliability and customer service. Product Sourcing is a drop shipper that has a good reputation and excellent customer service.  They are less expensive than Doba, and they also offer online instruction in drop shipping. Other drop shippers like Sale Hoo and Worldwide Brands offer customers educational resources and lists of whole sale drop shippers, who are anxious to work with online stores and eBay retailers. Worldwide Brands and Sale Hoo have a large selection of free online classes for members on topics like drop shipping, starting a business and eBay marketing. The cost to join Worldwide Brands is a onetime fee of 299$. Sale Hoo charges a fee of $67 for a directory of over 8000 wholesale suppliers. When choosing a drop ship company, it is necessary to focus on price, reputation, customer service and educational resources. Checking with the BBB and other eBay sellers should assist you in finding the best drop shipper for your online store. With the holiday season approaching, now may be an opportune time to add drop shipping to your online business.

Starting an Online Business to Earn Extra Money

Unemployment in the United Sates is still at peak levels. According to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics, unemployment remains at 9 percent. Many people are also underemployed in part time positions or low paying jobs. With unemployment at an all-time high, many people are seeking other forms of work. Becoming an online retailer with eBay, eBid or Etsy is a part time job that can boost your income and become a full time occupation. Almost anything can be sold on eBay or eBid, from sports equipment to antiques, electronics and used clothing. Etsy is another online auction website which specializes in sales of handmade arts and crafts. Your online sales business can either be a small, part time, or fulltime business or a onetime garage sale of unused items. You would be surprised at how much money you can make by cleaning out the closet and listing unused items on an online auction site. Sales can also be extremely lucrative on auction sites during the holiday seasons. In addition to eBay and Ebid sales, there are companies like Product Sourcing, Doba and Worldwide Brands which specialize in drop shipping. Professional drop shippers allow you to promote their products on your website or eBay account and then ship the product to your customer after it sells. Starting an online business is easy. On eBay, all you need to start selling is a PayPal account. Etsy’s registration is a bit more complex. They require online sellers to have a credit card or a debit card with a credit card logo. Ebid, another online auction site, provides free product listings for a onetime fee of $74.99. Ebid has some features which make it easier for online sellers to use than the other sites. Their online auction site accepts payments from a variety of sources including PayPal, PPP.com and Google Checkout. Ebid also gives online sellers the option to accept money orders. Because of the onetime fee, listing on eBid is cheaper than eBay. EBay has higher web traffic than eBid, therefor; sales may be higher. Before starting any online business which involves more than an occasional sale, it is a good idea to check with the state regarding license, sellers and resellers permits and tax requirements. With research and the proper use of advertising, selling at an online auction website can become a successful part time business.

Finding Health Insurance With a Pre- Existing Medical Condition

Health Insurance and Pre-existing Conditions

     In the past, people avoided seeking medical treatment because they had no health insurance, or because they were afraid a doctor visit would appear on their medical records. Finding health insurance with a pre- existing condition can be a challenge. I understand as this year a member of my family was denied health insurance because of a medical condition. My story is not uncommon.
     An acquaintance recently confided in me, “My husband and I are losing our insurance policy through Cobra. We have applied for coverage at two different insurance companies, and we were rejected by both of them. It is because of my pre-existing condition.”
Because of health care reform, there are increasing options in obtaining health care coverage, for adults with existing medical conditions. Currently there are new pre- existing condition insurance plans (PCIP) for consumers with pre-existing medical conditions in every state. Visit pcip.gov for more information. PCIP allows adults with pre-existing medical conditions to obtain a wide range of insurance benefits including hospitalization, doctor, specialist visits, and prescription drug coverage. Health care coverage begins immediately. There are no waiting periods or exclusions for medical treatment of pre-existing conditions. PCIP is available to adults who have been uninsured for at least six months. In addition, applicants require an application denial letter, from an insurance company in the past year. PCIP insurance plans are available to everyone, regardless of income. Insurance premiums are determined by age and location.
Another option for people with existing medical conditions and no health care insurance is joining a high risk insurance pool. Currently 34 states have some form of high risk health insurance. High risk insurance pools allow people with medical problems, who are usually declined health insurance coverage, to receive some insurance benefits. The drawbacks of participation in the risk pool are high premiums, limitations on benefits, and long waiting periods to obtain coverage. There are also limits regarding residency requirements and the number of participants in the high- risk pool.

With few options what can adults do who have an existing medical problem? One possibility is to create a small business and enroll in a group health insurance plan. In many states, people with pre-existing conditions are starting small businesses as a source if extra income and for group health care insurance. Most states have laws that offer group policies with guarantee issue to small businesses with as few as 1 or 2 members and as many as 50. In California, a business with two or more people is eligible for a group health care policy. The benefits of group policies over individual health care plans are that they are guaranteed to issue by law regardless of any pre-existing medical condition. In addition, there are no time limits on insurance coverage.
Thanks to health care reform, consumers with pre- existing medical conditions have better access to health care insurance. There are new regulations in almost every state regarding health insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Most local insurance agents are extremely knowledgeable regarding the new health care reform laws. Consumers who have pre- existing medical problems and need health care insurance should contact their local insurance agent to determine if they are eligible for benefits.
References
http://naschip.org/states_pools.htm
http://Pcip.gov

Job Hunting Tips and Best Second Careers for Today’s Economy

    In today’s economy, high unemployment is an ongoing problem. Many people are looking for jobs. According to recent statistics,  job seekers over age 50 are having the most problems getting hired in the current economy. The following are some career tips and suggestions to improve your employment search. Consider updating and age proofing your resume. Remain active in your job search by going to community employment centers and temporary employment agencies. Become involved in support groups and network with other job seekers. Take classes and improve any outdated technical skills. Join a gym in order to remain physically fit. Try  yoga or meditation to improve flexibility and reduce tension. Meditation is wonderful for relieving stress and anxiety. Free and low cost meditation classes are often available locally and provide a wonderful way to relax. Enroll in college and pursue a second degree in a field of interest. Volunteer your time at a local business or nonprofit. Volunteering is another way to gain experience and improve your resume. Most importantly, do not give up hope. Listed below are some recession proof second careers.

Health care - The health care field is recession proof. Health care occupations are expected to have above average growth. There are many different professions within the health care field. Most health care careers require an associate’s degree and certification. In some cases a bachelor’s degree or graduate training is required.

Accounting- Careers in the accounting field are expected to increase in 2011. Becoming an accountant requires training and certification. Most accountants have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree and additional CPA certification. The average salary for accountants are 60,000$ or more.

Paralegal- Paralegals provide assistance to members of the legal field. The occupational outlook for jobs in paralegal services is expected to increase in the next 5 years. A bachelor’s degree and paralegal certification are required for a career in the paralegal field. The average salary for paralegal is between 30,000 and 50,000 dollars a year.

Retail Sales: The career outlook for retail sales is currently excellent. Retail sales associates use customer service and cashiering skills to help assist customers with retail shopping purchases. The salary for retail sales associates averages around ten dollars an hour. Hours are flexible and full and part time job positions are available.

Real Estate Salesperson: Real estate is an excellent second career. Real estate licensure and training is available to all high- school graduates who are over 18 years old. There are no other formal educational requirements. One can become a licensed professional after several months of classes and passing an exam. Classes are available online or in a traditional classroom setting. Many older adults enjoy the flexibility, and income which a career in real estate offers.

Small Business Owner: Many people looking for employment are becoming a small business owners or consultants. With the economy showing signs of recovery it is a good time to become an entrepreneur. Free and low cost workshops on starting small businesses are available from SCORE, www.score.org and the SBA, www.sba.gov.

Insurance sales: Careers in insurance sale offer excellent employment opportunities. The career outlook for insurance producers is currently above average. According to Insurance producers sell, annuities, health, and property, and casualty insurance. Although there are no educational requirements, insurance agents must complete several months of class room or online training and successfully pass a state exam. The estimated median income for an insurance producer is between 30,000 and 65,000 dollars per year.

Links

http://www.xomba.com/economic_recession_and_second_careers_people_over_50

References

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2011/01/too_young_not_to_work_too_old.html

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ooh_index.htm